August 7, 2013

Avenue and Mitchell Street along the City of Orange border had been determined to be in need of redevelopment. The property owner was Harvard Properties, LLC. The buildings were in poor condition; the site was undergoing remediation. The East Branch of the Rahway River divided the West Orange lots. The adopted 2008 plan had included the area train station in Orange and the culvert be revitalized and create new green space. The City of Orange had granted redevelopment approval and their Planning Board had approved the project. The property located on the West Orange side was previously approved for one hundred units “for sale” only; last month the Board made the recommendation to the Township Council the West Orange plan be amended to change the units to residential “rental” units. The project would provide a big boost to the area. It was the Board’s job to evaluate the plan; he advised the board the plan did need a variance for side yard setback. The project's first floor could be on the property line but the additional floors would have to be set back. Other than the side yard setback, the plan fully complies with the redevelopment plan. Barry J. Sutherland, PE, TRC Engineers, Inc., was sworn in, stated his credentials, and was accepted by the Board to be an expert in engineering. Referring to Exhibit A-1, Mr. Sutherland said it was a color rendering of the site plan showing the proposed improvements; Exhibit A-2 showed both Orange and West Orange for an overall view of the project. Referring to Exhibit A-1, Mr. Sutherland described the existing conditions, the project’s West Orange property was 1.55 acres; it was zoned for Harvard Press Redevelopment; the property currently included multi-storied buildings that straddled West Orange and Orange, there was an auto body business and an asphalt parking lot; the East Branch of the Rahway River was previously piped underground and ran through the site near the easterly boundary. The proposed plan included “day lighting” the river. Mr. Sutherland explained the environmental status of the property; the site had contaminated historical fill, including lead, and in the northwest portion of the property there had been a mercury spill; approximately 3,500 cubic yards of fill would be removed. The State had allocated over $600,000.00 to clean up the site. The proposed West Orange plan included the demolition of the

n a mercury spill; approximately 3,500 cubic yards of fill would be removed. The State had allocated over $600,000.00 to clean up the site. The proposed West Orange plan included the demolition of the existing structure and construction of a new 30,000 square foot structure to include one-hundred rental units identified as “Building C”, the Orange plan was identified as “Building A” and “Building B’, to include 128 units. “Building C” would be five stories to include thirty-three (33) one-bedroom units, fifty-nine (59) two-bedroom units and eight (8) three-bedroom units. There would be one parking space per unit; forty (1) surface lot spaces in a new 15,000 square feet parking lot, and sixty (60) interior garage spaces underneath the building. An additional thirty (30) spaces would be reserved in the Deco building if necessary; which could also be designated for commuter parking. Except for a portion of the upper floors on the western side of the building, the project would conform to zoning requirements. The drainage sheet flowed east-west and down to Orange; there was presently asphalt 8.5 CFS; C-330 was the building plan; the drainage was submitted and approved by the DEP; the entire roof was to be tied to a HTP pipe system (underground detention facility). The plan was all in accordance with the NJ DEP requirements. Referring to the Omland Memo dated August 1, 2013; Mr. Sutherland said the Applicant would comply with comments #17, #20, #21, #23, #24, #34 and #35. Referring to comment #17, Mr. Sutherland said compliance would only be possible if it did not affect the Applicant's existing NJ DEP permits. Mr. Russo said it was not a requirement but rather a suggestion. NAPLANNING. BRD\WPAMINUTES(201318-7-13 Minutes.doc